New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-06
TIE DROUTH IN THE WEST.
WISCONSIN PARcHED AND BURNING.

PRAIRIE FIRES ADDING TO THE DlsiIho'
SHOWERS ALONG THE BURLINGTON ROUTE
SELLING WATER BY THE TANKtCL
CHICAGO, Aug 5.-A dispatch from Camp Lake,
Wis., saws UnIess the prevailing drouth comes to
speedy end the indications are that considersp'e
portion of Southern Wisconsin will be little more tnan
a black desert before many days. The present oIy
spell has ecpsed anything in the recollection Of tue
proverbial Oldest settler and brush and prairie
fires are rsported from score of directions. OF ten
farmers who gathered last night at Postmaster
Mcveys hotel in this place, six bad been engaged fof
several days IN fighting back the flames from their
homesteads, while the families OF the other tour had
been taking at sittin at night Ia order tnat
the households might be aroused in of sudden
de nger The condition OF the ground scarcely be
imagined. Every bit of moisture and sap has oeeh
burned out OF grass bushes and all kinds of vegeta
tion and the earth Is dry that even the roots OF
the stubbIe in recer tly mo we'd fields are burning
over hundreds upon hundreds OF acres. Sloughs and
weedy streams which have never before ceased run
ming have dried up, and the air Is hiled with tue
smoke of the burning weeds and eveu bog land WINE
tho frame farmhouses and barns are SO Thoroughly
baked that the application OF lighted match TO the
outside of many OF them would speedily reduce the
structures to ashes Scores OF wells, fed by springs
have gone dry and the farmers n many instances are
compelled go miles to the lakes tor water for hoase-
hold purposes
In many cases the farmers have ploughed wide
around their homes aud haystacks In order to
prevent the crossing of the hanes but even this pre-
caution has in many instances proven futile. Cattle
suffering terribly, and the milk supply has been
reduced to a ruuimun. Morning after morning the
farmers look .ousy in hope of but tue sky
cl)udless, and the hot blasts of wind sweeping over
the burning fields are perpetual reminder OF the
Sanara Desert Nothing like the preseot drouth has
ever been known IN this region, and the summer OF
1887 will pass into the history of Southern Wisconsin
as the most terrible season il has EXPERIENCED
What ia the condition of the country along the
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy route according to
the 'atest reports n Vice-President Peaslsy was
asked by a reporter to-day. .
{" Well in general. things look pretty spotted. The
corn crop s might say. the mainstay OF the country
along the Burlington route, and in some sections
OF heavy drenching rains on It would be, am not
enough OF farmer 10 say think that II It were 10
up and there would be such rich fall pasturage that
the necessity for using the for feeding would not
be great, and that would practically be an addition
to the crop"
What are your advices as to the weather along
your linesP
Kansas CITY to Council Bluffs and in Nebraska and
heavy showers were here and there III Iowa. There
pretty general sprinkling all along, and may
cay that there Ia division of the Chicago, Burng-
ton aud Quincy but bad some showers IN the last
forty-eight hours"
" Have you had any fires from the drouthw
" None that am aware OF. III there had been any
involving any considerable loss should have been
notihed OF II at d,n't think that the country
through which We run has as whole suffered such
be sure II has been unprscedcn,edly dry, and 1t Is
pretty hard lines almost everywhere. What makes IT
50 hard Is that In the middle of June the prospects
were the most favorable kaown Tor fine crops all
around. Even get d. not give up hope tor the tall
pasturoge for matter how burned and parcbed the
gras, may be good Heavy rain seems TO start 1t
giowing again"
President Keep, of the Northwestern Railroad, said
that what alvces he had indicated rainfall Of any
account OF the Mississippi south OF the Wiscon-
siu River. IL pretty drouthy weather, the most
severe ever known. aud there we're great hardshiPs
as there necessity be. The great hold OF the
Northwestern territory was wheat, and he believed
that to be doing pretty we'll As to oats he had NJ
late aJvices. lie had not heard OF any prairie fires
nor OF any tam fires that amounted to anything.
Ii s reported that unless there cessation OF the
dry weather the Illinois Central will take OF trains
the water supply Tor their engines Is getting low
Aresan wells make il for the other roads out
OF Chicago.
A new industry has sprung mp In the neighborond
OF Montrose the Northwestern road. The artesian
we'll there Is pouring out its water in undimnishcd
stream, and parties have rigged up portable tank
contain ng 800 gallous They fll this at the well In
about tour minutes, and sell the tank iull to the
owners of wells in the ncighborhood which have
gone dry at So the tankful.